Road Trip to Portland with 15 Trailer Park Cats

 

Mona Lisa says Merry Christmas!

The FCCO is a blessing to our state!   I love them.

I may be overly emotional due to wear out but still, I do love the FCCO.

Day in, day out, they're fixing hundreds of cats.   No other animal nonprofit has made such a difference for Oregon cats.   It's the only clinic I know of in our state smart enough to address the root cause of suffering.  Stop it at its source, rather than take in the aftermath as stray kittens or adults.

I'm an admirer of smart efficient effective operations.

I started Tuesday night, trapping at  the trailer park for Thursday's trip to FCCO.  The trailer park had 15 reservations.   By Tuesday evening, I had caught 7 cats.   8 to go on Wednesday.

Wednesday was slow, with trapping.  But with help from several residents, including one who mastered the drop trap, we did it and had 15.  The weather was not that helpful.  Tuesday was wet, windy and wild---downpourings, from a Pineapple Express that went through.  Areas on the coast and north flooded.

I had to be at the FCCO by 7:15 a.m. Thursday morning.  That meant leaving at 5:30 to be sure I got there on time in case of traffic congestion.   I don't mind being up early and on with it.   My back was already sore and by the time I arrived at the clinic, a few minutes early, and began unloading, my brain was screaming to stop, from back issues.  I kept on, to get all 15 carried up to the check in table.  Afterwards I stretched out my back with leg pulls and it was better.   

I went to Winco afterwards.  I get breakfast there, in their deli department, a salad usually, maybe cheese and crackers.  Its so affordable.  I walk the aisles too, because the array of products is so fantastic.  I like to look..  And I got a $3 book.   This was my main purpose to stop there before heading to the rest area.   I'd brought my pillow, two blankets and the pad I'm now using which used to be a pool float.  It works really well as a sleep pad.

I had to clean out the back well first, after carrying 15 cats up.   I slept about 3 hours.   I went down to the next exit, when it was time to go pick up the cats, to turn around to head north on the freeway.  The off ramp and freeway there is under construction.   There are always long lines of cars and trucks in the off ramp waiting to turn right or left, at the stop sign. to go to one of several gas stations.  When I got to the stop sign, my left front tire suddenly dropped into a hole, with a clunk, and my car was thrown out of gear.  I'd hit a massive pothole that you can't see until you hit it, because of the line of cars.

Wtf, I thought.   Right there with all the ODOT construction going on.  Why they hell don't they fix that.  

I went up to the gas station to check my car for damage (none) then went inside to use the restroom and get a drink.  I chatted and  joked with a truck driver and also a local who  drives around with her two cats and dog in her car.  I'd parked right next to her, after I saw the fat calico sprawled napping on the dashboard.

I made it back to the clinic right at 4:00 p.m., picked up the cats, carrying them even further this time to my car, since I had to park in their parking lot, not out front right by the check in tables.  Traffic was not horrible coming back to Albany.  I was back home just after 6:00 p.m.

I gave all 15 cats food and water, then came in, did chores here, then settled in to watch Hell's Kitchen and Next Level Chef Christmas edition.  There aren't many shows I watch these days.  Hard to find anything good on TV.   I do watch cooking shows when I can.  My favorite is still the Great British Baking Show.  

A really kind friend had ordered a pizza and salad to be delivered to me at 7:15.   This was so sweet of her.   To not have to scrounge something to eat, in a currently bare fridge, was fabulous, like being pampered.  I felt like a celebrity, to have food brought right to my door!

This morning, it's almost time to return the kitties.  They'll be happy to be out of those traps.  Then its laundry and cage cleaning, but those things can be done at leisure.   I know how these trips go afterwards.   I get up the next morning, like now, feel like I'm rested, but I'll only have energy for about three hours before I'll need to sleep again.

Are you ready to see 15 cat faces?    I must subject you to it.  This is one way I keep records that I might need to see later.

Didn't catch this male.  He has interesting colors, black with white flecks showing through.  He did not see me inside the car, until I moved, then he freaked out and was gone.

Among the 15, 3 brown tabbies, 1 all gray, 2 gray tuxes, 3 black tuxes and the rest all black.